Latest news with #graduateHiring
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Impact of AI on hiring being felt in accountancy sector
The number of professional job openings overall increased by 10 per cent in the second quarter of the year, but graduate hiring in accountancy and related areas is starting to show significant signs of being impacted by artificial intelligence (AI), the latest Morgan McKinley Quarterly Employment Monitor suggests. Overall, the research suggests there is a slight, 1.8 per cent, decline in the number of vacancies, indicating a 'cautious employment environment'. However, 'the standout development this quarter is the significant impact of AI and automation, particularly within the accountancy and finance sectors', according to Trayc Keevans, global director at Morgan McKinley Ireland. 'The notable reduction in graduate hiring by major firms, driven by AI capabilities, highlights potential challenges ahead,' she said. 'The accounting and finance sector is experiencing a significant shift towards data analytics and AI-driven roles. Companies are increasingly leveraging AI capabilities to automate routine tasks such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, and payroll.' [ Lack of skills, badly formatted applications: survey reveals why job candidates are rejected Opens in new window ] More broadly, she said, 'contract hiring among larger multinational firms has slowed this quarter, influenced by tighter cost controls prompting a shift towards permanent positions or offshore staffing solutions. The Juggle: the issues facing women with young children when balancing childcare and their careers Listen | 44:30 'Additionally, ongoing debates around hybrid and return-to-office working models continue to shape recruitment strategies, as employers seek the right balance between flexibility and in-person collaboration.' Separate research by Hays Ireland highlights the ongoing importance of remote working to professional staff. It finds 85 per cent say hybrid and flexible working has positively impacted upon their wellbeing. The survey also suggests there continues to be significant recognition of the importance of remote working on the part of employers, with more than half (61 per cent) investing in flexible working arrangements to boost wellbeing. The company says even the media focus on hybrid working and the repeated reports it is under threat is a source of anxiety, however. Its survey found 42 per cent of professionals found the news coverage of return-to-office policies negatively impacted upon their wellbeing. [ Significant growth in professional job seekers in first quarter, report shows Opens in new window ] Despite that, Maureen Lynch, managing director of Hays Ireland, said the research suggested a general alignment between employers and their staff with regard to issues of workplace wellbeing. 'It's encouraging to see a shared recognition between employers and employees that wellbeing is key to business success,' she said. Recruitment consultants Manpower Ireland, meanwhile, said prospects for hiring in the third quarter remain positive, with a Net Employment Outlook of 29 per cent. The figure is obtained by deducting the number of employers responding to its latest survey that indicate they are likely to cut staff numbers in the third quarter of this year from the number expecting to hire. The firm says 38 per cent of those indicating they expect to add staff suggest it will be the result of business expansion. Keeping up with technological development, changing service needs and skills requirements are among the main other motivations mentioned.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Ericsson to scale up graduate hiring, internships in Saudi Arabia, senior official reveals
RIYADH: Telecoms firm Ericsson is expanding its graduate hiring and internship programs in Saudi Arabia as it seeks to strengthen its regional footprint, a senior executive told Arab News. In an interview on the sidelines of the inauguration of the company's regional headquarters in Riyadh, Patrick Johansson, president and head of market area Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ericsson, said the Swedish firm is deepening its collaboration with Saudi universities and expanding hands-on training opportunities. The Swedish company officially unveiled its new office in the presence of Haytham Al-Ohali, vice minister at Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi, assistant minister at the Ministry of Investment, and Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia's Regional Headquarters Program, which aims to attract multinational companies to establish their Middle East and North Africa bases in the Kingdom by offering tax incentives, regulatory support, and preferential government contracting. Global firms such as PepsiCo, Siemens, and Unilever have already set up offices in Riyadh, supporting the Vision 2030 goal of making Saudi Arabia a regional hub for innovation and decision-making. Reflecting on Ericsson's goal to develop a local workforce, Johansson said: 'The joint collaboration with universities and bringing on new graduate students and training them on the ground has been part from the very beginning.' He added: 'Now we're expanding that even greater while having the regional headquarters here, so it is about bringing even broader numbers of students doing internships.' Emphasizing collaboration, talent development, and fifth-generation network leadership, Ericsson highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships and technological progress in building an inclusive digital infrastructure for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. As part of its long-term commitment to local talent development, Ericsson has been running the Gen-E graduate program at the 5G Innovation Hub in Riyadh since 2018. The initiative has trained more than 190 Saudi graduates from both local and international universities, with women making up 50 percent of the participants. The program includes technical workshops and hands-on training in Ericsson's tools and methodologies, led by subject matter experts and the company's Saudi leadership. It has contributed to the development of a range of 5G and Internet of Things applications in areas such as robotics, edge computing, and mixed reality — aligning with the Kingdom's broader digital transformation agenda. Ericsson is scaling up its talent development efforts, which now include broader engagement with students across the region. 'It is about bringing even broader numbers of students doing internships, but also the graduate programs as part of the activities here in Saudi Arabia,' Johansson said. He noted that Saudi Arabia's rapid digital evolution under Vision 2030 is providing fertile ground for innovation and cross-sector collaboration, saying it has taken 'an exponential leap. The Ericsson official added: 'And of course, we're leveraging our technology… also working across with academia, and then also into new areas, which is part of the vision.' The company's partnerships with major Saudi telecom operators remain central to its operations. 'We're working mainly with the two big operators — with stc and with Mobily — and again, it is about providing the connectivity that builds beyond.' He also highlighted that the move to establish its base in the Kingdom was a 'very simple choice to make.' Johansson pointed to new initiatives extending beyond traditional connectivity. 'It's also about introducing new ways of having technology for good,' he said, referring to the Connected Recycling platform project launched with stc's IoT subsidiary in February, aimed at improving the efficiency and impact of recycling through digital tools. Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of ecosystem-driven progress, stating: 'We put the foundation here by opening our real headquarters, but then it's what we do and achieve together … because it is all about the ecosystem.' The inauguration event included discussions on the evolution of network technologies, the roadmap to sixth-generation connectivity, and the role of Vision 2030 in guiding long-term innovation strategies, according to a press release.
